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Post by jennaglatzer on Apr 24, 2005 22:40:41 GMT -5
So I figured this would be a good way to introduce myself.
A few years back, my brother (who's now 26) asked me what the word "retard" meant. Someone had called him that and he didn't understand. First, I told him it meant "REally TARrific," but eventually, I thought it was time to have a real talk about Down syndrome.
Well, I went through the whole explanation about genes and how he has an extra chromosome-- explained to him what "Uno Mas" meant, and he loved it-- anyway, he looked like he understood it all pretty well, and I was excited that I was able to explain it to him.
Few weeks later, he went shopping with me. I was trying to pick out a pair of jeans and asked for his opinion.
"What do you think of these?" I asked.
"Those are good jeans!" he said. "They look like they might have an extra chromosome in them, and then you could be smart like me."
;D ;D ;D
Lady in the next aisle had to control herself from cracking up. I loved it. So much for my explanations!
(P.S. Hi. I'm Jenna. Newbie to the board, but long-time visitor to the site.)
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Post by Emilysmom on Apr 25, 2005 4:13:05 GMT -5
WELCOME to Uno Mas Jenna! We're glad to have you here!! Looking forward to hearing more about your brother.
Susan
(Mom to Emily, age 13)
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Post by meghans_mom on Apr 25, 2005 4:41:40 GMT -5
Welcome Jenna!
laurie - mom to Meghan aka MM (4 DS) and Matthew (2 in a few days!)
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Post by donnita on Apr 25, 2005 6:34:29 GMT -5
Welcome to UnoMas Jenna!
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Post by Cbean on Apr 25, 2005 6:52:07 GMT -5
Hi Jenna! Welcome and thank you for that story! I'm the proud mom to Emily, the wonder baby, who's 4 months old and her big brother Ryan who's 5 years old. I hope to hear more from you and keep sharing those stories about your brother. Sounds like a terrific man. As the mom of a baby with DS, I know there's a whole different world ahead of us. I love to hear viewpoints from older kids and adults with DS. Share lady share!!! By the way, where can I get a pare of those jeans!?!
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Post by momofrussell on Apr 25, 2005 7:22:23 GMT -5
Now THAT is a funny and WAY too cute story!!!!!
Welcome Jenna!!!!!!
A.
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Post by jennaglatzer on Apr 25, 2005 9:46:05 GMT -5
I love to hear viewpoints from older kids and adults with DS. Share lady share!!! I know what you mean. Actually, wait, I wrote Michelle an e-mail yesterday that probably gives a better intro to Paul than I could type right now, so I'll paste part of it here... When my brother was born (1978), there wasn't nearly as much info about DS as there is now. Doctors advised my parents to institutionalize Paul, telling them that he might never be able to talk, tie his own shoes, etc. They scared the daylights out of my dad. My mom's childhood friend had a brother with DS and she had worked at a camp for people with disabilities, so it didn't scare her much. She tried to explain to my dad that the doctors were wrong, but he was just devastated. He couldn't hold my brother. He didn't want to look at him. He couldn't see any kind of future for this kid, and he was not so sure they were making the right decision by keeping him at all. When I tell you that our lives-- ALL of our lives-- would have been empty without him, I'm not kidding. My dad and brother are very close, but he's MY best friend.  He's just slightly above average in terms of "academic" intelligence for someone with DS, but he's brilliant emotionally and socially. I've watched this kid work miracles in the simplest ways, just making people's day with his warmth and simplicity. I was agoraphobic for several years. Paul never quite knew what that meant... he called it my "allergies." I've now been better for about three years, but still, every time I make it out of the house (which I do easily now), he tells me how proud he is of me. He tells me how happy he is to spend time with me, and how it's so good to see me come to family functions again. He remembers the names of everyone he's ever known. He'll ask me about friends of mine from the 6th grade and if I know what they're doing now... he was 7 years old then, and met some of them just once or twice, but he remembers everybody! He says "hi" to everyone we walk past in the mall. He tells the waiter, "You look like a nice person." He's like human Prozac, and his sense of humor is spot-on. We've talked many times about him becoming an advocate in some way, and he's dying to do it. After we talked about it, though, I was never quite sure what to do with the idea. He's not on a Chris Burke level, that's for sure, but he has such a good heart and is such a good example. He's worked in a nursing home since shortly after he graduated from high school, is the state champion in his weight class in powerlifting in the Special Olympics, has a great social group he goes out with every weekend... Anyway, now I'm just rambling. Can't help it. He's the coolest. But I do have a point. One of the things I've always wanted to do is to make a short video of him, telling his own story, for new parents to see. My parents used to do some "new parent counseling"-type stuff on the phone, but one of the things they always wanted to know was, "Yeah, but what's my kid going to be like as an adult?" There weren't many good examples back then, because the adults with DS didn't grow up with the benefits we have now with early intervention programs, medical care, physical therapy, job training, social groups, etc. -- There was more to the e-mail, but that's the summary of my incredibly cool brother. Next time I go visit him, I'll help him set up an account here so he can post and tell you more about himself. He loves e-mail and using the Internet, but he needs a little direction with things like signing up for message boards. New parents: You're in for the most wonderful ride. You've been more blessed than you may even know right now!  |
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Post by jennaglatzer on Apr 25, 2005 9:52:21 GMT -5
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Post by Staci on Apr 25, 2005 10:03:03 GMT -5
Jenna, your brother is gorgeous, you are beautiful and welcome to Uno Mas! Thanks for sharing your story, your website and your brother. Please hook him up with Uno, we'd love to hear from him, too! I am Staci, proud mommy of Aidan Matthew who is 4 1/2 and his sister Parker who is nearly 2! I had Aidan a few days after my 23rd birthday and we didn't know he had DS until about 20, 30 minutes AFTER he was born...it was quite a shock, needless to say...but everything is great now. ;D I wouldn't trade my guy for the world! Here's his website if you want to see his pictures... www.geocities.com/lanea242000/index.htmlAgain, welcome!! Staci |
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Post by Jessie on Apr 25, 2005 10:09:03 GMT -5
Welcome Jenna!
Great story . . . and it sounds and looks as though you have every right to be "ridiculously proud" or your brother!
Look forward to hearing more from you - and hope you do get Paul on-line to talk to all of us - that would be great!
Jessie (stepmom to Jason, 12, and a bun in the oven!)
P.S. Who knew Celine Dion was so dang tall?!! LOL
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Post by jennaglatzer on Apr 25, 2005 10:35:32 GMT -5
Okay, I'm in love with Aidan. Cutest picture ever!! Yeah, Celine is really tall! I had to put that disclaimer on my own site because people kept assuming I was really short.  (By the way, she's a doll. I'm writing her biography, have spent a lot of time with her-- you'd be amazed by how genuine and down-to-earth she is.) I'll make sure to get Paul on here. Someone has to get Debbie back here too, though. I read all her posts last night and can't wait to "meet" her! |
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Post by kellyds on Apr 25, 2005 10:49:45 GMT -5
Welcome, Jenna. I'm fairly new here myself, since our son Joshua is only ten weeks old. www.babiesonline.com/babies/d/davenkelly/Paul is very handsome and sounds like a great guy. Love your signature line! (Our older children are all "ridiculously proud" of their baby brother, too.) I enjoyed your website, too. I've always wanted to "write something", but I've never followed through. At 45, and with five other children to compare him to, I knew within a couple of minutes of Joshua's birth that he had DS. We didn't mind at all. But it's always nice to "know" an adult, like your brother, who is doing so well. |
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Post by Mary_L. on Apr 26, 2005 11:51:06 GMT -5
Welcome Jenna ;D and what a wonderful story! It sounds like your brother is doing great. I hope we hear more from you here at Uno Mas!
Mary
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Post by wrblack on Apr 26, 2005 12:33:32 GMT -5
Well, duh, loved the genes and jeans story, but didn't read the signature line closely enough. What a welcome addition to Uno Land! A real writer!
And I've heard good things about your book Taking Down Syndrome to School. 'Course, I'm sitting here on top of about 6 million books (Princeton University Library), and that, of course, ain't one of them.
Hmm, wonder if Janis Gonzales still checks in from time to time and if she could still use some tips on getting her manuscript into the hands of a good and useful agent, editor, or publisher.
And I trust that Debbie is still with us. Would be great if Paul decided to join in the fray as well, sounds like quite a guy.
Best regards,
Bob
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Post by jennaglatzer on Apr 26, 2005 12:49:41 GMT -5
Hey, thanks, Bob!
One of the coolest experiences in my life:
Soon after Taking Down Syndrome to School came out, my neighbor (a 2nd grade teacher) asked if I'd come read it to her class. Of course I said yes, but also asked if Paul could come. Boy, was he thrilled!
The class was SO cool! They asked such great and honest questions, and treated Paul beautifully. They wanted to know regular-kid stuff, like what games he liked and what his favorite TV shows were, but they also asked such innocent and cute questions-- like, "Why do some people make fun of other people?" (I held back from saying, "Because they stink!").
One boy with learning disabilities asked the teacher if he could bring the book home so his mom could read it to him again. Now if that isn't the best thing to ever happen to a writer...!
I did visit Paul last night, and he signed up for an account. Unfortunately, his password didn't arrive (at least not for the hour that we hung out and waited), so we may have to try again. But in the meantime, he read lots of messages and can't wait to join in.
His eyes lit up at the book section. He loves to read. He's on book 4 of the Harry Potter series, I think. But I'll let him tell you more himself once we get the account straightened out! He didn't want to write anything under my screen name. He wanted his username to be "Superstar." ;D
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&
Susan, Proud mom of Michael (32), Justin (25) Emily (22ds), and Jordan (20).
He's just slightly above average in terms of "academic" intelligence for someone with DS, but he's brilliant emotionally and socially. I've watched this kid work miracles in the simplest ways, just making people's day with his warmth and simplicity.
(By the way, she's a doll. I'm writing her biography, have spent a lot of time with her-- you'd be amazed by how genuine and down-to-earth she is.)